Cardiff’s slow starts needs solving
By Tom Coleman
Let’s be clear, Cardiff City thoroughly deserved their win in South Yorkshire, but as has so often been the case, they were once again a little slow in getting out the blocks here.
Indeed, with much of the pre-match talk dominated by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the prospect of self-isolation may well have seemed like a pretty attractive option to many of those in attendance at Oakwell, such was the standard of football on show.
In all seriousness, though, while deserving of huge credit for their vastly improved showing after half-time, and despite the occasional flashes of promise before the break, Cardiff took too long to get up and running here, and may well have been punished had they been playing a better side, a Leeds United for example.
In fairness, it can’t be stressed enough that Barnsley were just as poor themselves, and looked a million miles away from the side that smashed Fulham only a few weeks ago.
Of course, the conditions certainly played a part, as Bluebirds boss Neil Harris explained after the game.
He said: “I don’t think you can underestimate standing pitchside how awkward the pitch was to play on today and the conditions.
“As soon as it kicked off, the wind came from nowhere.
“It was difficult, and we didn’t help ourselves first half. We weren’t composed enough and I think some of the boys took me too literally when I told them not to play risky football.
“We couldn’t really build any momentum and the moments we did have in the first half where we got into good areas. Again we didn’t have the composure, the quality or the creativity in the final third.
“At half-time we talked about that composure and trusting each other, being a bit braver on the ball and reminding them of what good players they are.
“And we had some real moments second half. The first goal summed it up.”
Harris has done an excellent job in keeping City in touch with the play-off places, and he himself knows there’s more to come from this team.
He’s laid down a great foundation on which to build a genuine top-six challenge, and probably hasn’t received the credit he deserves for the job he’s done so far.
If he can take that level of intensity up a notch, that will surely change, and Cardiff could well be on to something very special.
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